This page provides all possible meanings and translations of the word behaviorism

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:(0.00 / 0 votes)

an approach to psychology that emphasizes observable measurable behavior

WiktionaryRate this definition:(0.00 / 0 votes)

behaviorism(Noun)

an approach to psychology focusing on behavior, denying any independent significance for mind and assuming that behavior is determined by the environment

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Behaviorism

Behaviorism, is an approach to psychology that combines elements of philosophy, methodology, and theory. It emerged in the early twentieth century as a reaction to "mentalistic" psychology, which often had difficulty making predictions that could be tested using rigorous experimental methods. The primary tenet of behaviorism, as expressed in the writings of John B. Watson, B. F. Skinner, and others, is that psychology should concern itself with the observable behavior of people and animals, not with unobservable events that take place in their minds. The behaviorist school of thought maintains that behaviors as such can be described scientifically without recourse either to internal physiological events or to hypothetical constructs such as thoughts and beliefs.
From early psychology in the 19th century, the behaviorist school of thought ran concurrently and shared commonalities with the psychoanalytic and Gestalt movements in psychology into the 20th century; but also differed from the mental philosophy of the Gestalt psychologists in critical ways. Its main influences were Ivan Pavlov, who investigated classical conditioning although he did not necessarily agree with behaviorism or behaviorists, Edward Lee Thorndike, John B. Watson who rejected introspective methods and sought to restrict psychology to experimental methods, and B.F. Skinner who conducted research on operant conditioning.

U.S. National Library of MedicineRate this definition:(0.00 / 0 votes)

Behaviorism

A psychologic theory developed by James B. Watson concerned with studying and measuring behaviors that are observable.